REMSEN-LAKE PLACID TRAVEL CORRIDOR FINAL MANAGEMENT PLAN / ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT MARCH, 1996 PRINCIPAL AUTHORS: Richard T. Fenton David V. Gray NYSDEC - Division of Lands and Forests TASK FORCE LEADERS: Thomas B. Wolfe - Chief; Donald A. Baker Bureau of Preserve, Prot. and Mgt. Director Division of Lands and Forests Freight Transportation Division NYSDEC NYSDOT NYSDEC STAFF CONTRIBUTORS: NYSDOT STAFF CONTRIBUTORS: Carol S. Bunn Stephen R. Slavick R. Dennis Faulknham Bruce A. Blackie - Ret. Brian J. Finlayson Dennison P. Cottrell Paul T. Hartmann Joseph C. Davidson Jr. W. Garry Ives - Ret. Jeffrey D. English Robert S. McKinley Robert L. Gwin Charles O. Nevin - Ret. Daniel T. Kelly Albert Schiavone Frank A. Maggiolino Edward S. Smith John L. Ryan Benjamin S. Zodikoff - Ret. APA STAFF CONTRIBUTORS: James W. Hotaling, Charles W. Scrafford REGIONAL DIRECTORS: Thomas E. Brown - NYSDEC - Region 6 Stuart Buchanan - NYSDEC - Region 5 Alan N. Bloom - NYSDOT - Region 2 James F. Carrigan - NYSDOT - Region 7 Richard A. Maitino - NYSDOT - Region 1 ii iii SNOW JUNCTION...circa 1992 ...The Beginning iv v TABLE OF CONTENTS CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE ........................................... ix MAP ........................................................................x REMSEN-LAKE PLACID CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PLAN SUMMARY ......... xi REMSEN-LAKE PLACID CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PLAN/EIS I. INTRODUCTION .....................................................1 II. DESCRIPTION OF THE CORRIDOR ....................................5 III. HISTORY OF THE CORRIDOR A. NY CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY ..............................7 B. THE ADIRONDACK RAILWAY CORPORATION .....................7 C. FURTHER RAILROAD ATTEMPTS ................................9 D. BEAVER ACTIVITY - A CONTINUING CONCERN ..................10 E. FIRE HISTORY .................................................11 IV. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION ............................................13 V. DESCRIPTION OF MANAGEMENT PROPOSED (PROPOSED ACTION) A. PROJECT PURPOSE AND NEED ..................................15 B. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION ......................15 C. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY ..................................28 D. POTENTIAL FUNDING ..........................................32 E. OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL OF THE CORRIDOR ................34 F. EXISTING FACILITIES MAINTENANCE AND REHABILITATION .........................................35 G. FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT AND REMOVAL .....................37 H. PUBLIC USE MANAGEMENT AND CONTROLS ....................40 I. FISH AND WILDLIFE ...........................................43 J. WILD, SCENIC AND RECREATIONAL RIVERS ....................45 K. FIRE MANAGEMENT ...........................................45 L. ADMINISTRATION .............................................46 M. STAFFING .....................................................46 N. FOREST PRESERVE INTERPRETATION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION ............................................47 O. LAND TITLES AND/OR SURVEYS NEEDED ........................48 P. LAND ACQUISITION ............................................48 vi Q. SLMP TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS ..............................48 vii VI. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING (INVENTORY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND FACILITIES) A. NATURAL RESOURCES 1. Physical a. Geology and Soils ........................................50 b. Terrain ................................................50 c. Water .................................................51 d. Wetlands ..............................................51 2. Biological a. Vegetation ..............................................53 b. Wildlife ................................................54 c. Fisheries ...............................................55 d. Endangered and Threatened Species, Species of Special Concern, and Other Unique Species .....................................55 e. Significant Habitats .......................................57 3. Unique Areas ...............................................57 B. MAN-MADE FACILITIES ........................................58 C. PUBLIC RECREATIONAL AND INTERPRETIVE OPPORTUNITIES ................................58 D. TRANSPORTATION LINKS ......................................62 E. LAND USE AND ZONING ........................................62 F. COMMUNITY SERVICES ........................................64 G. ECONOMIC PROFILES OF CORRIDOR COUNTIES ................66 1. CULTURAL RESOURCES ...................................75 VII. PUBLIC USE OF AREA A. CORRIDOR RECREATION ......................................77 B. SNOWMOBILING ..............................................77 C. ADIRONDACK RAILWAY PRESERVATION SOCIETY ...............78 D. EXPERIENCE OF THE ADIRONDACK CENTENNIAL RAILROAD ........................80 E. TRESPASS .....................................................83 F. CURRENT MANAGEMENT, MAINTENANCE AND USE OF THE CORRIDOR ........................................83 G. SUMMARY OF ADIRONDACK RAILROAD TOURISM POTENTIAL ..87 VIII. SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS A. BENEFICIAL IMPACTS ..........................................88 B. ADVERSE IMPACTS ............................................91 viii IX. MITIGATION MEASURES ............................................97 X. CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ............................................105 XI. UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE IMPACTS .................................106 XII. IRREVERSIBLE AND IRRETRIEVABLE COMMITMENT OF RESOURCES ....................................107 XIII. GROWTH INDUCING ASPECTS ......................................108 XIV. EFFECTS ON THE USE AND CONSERVATION OF ENERGY RESOURCES ...........................109 XV. CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES A. MANAGEMENT CONSTRAINTS AND ISSUES .................... 110 B. PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR ALTERNATIVES ......................... 113 C. ALTERNATIVE TRAVEL CORRIDORS AND CORRIDOR TRAILS ........................................... 116 D. DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS OF CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES .................... 118 XVI. GLOSSARY OF TERMS .............................................153 XVII. BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES .................................155 XVIII. APPENDICES 1. 1982 Adirondack RR Corridor Beaver Site Inventory Project .............................................159 2. SAF Forest Types ................................................160 3. Adirondack Railway 1976 Service and Development Proposal ............................................164 4. Summary of 1981 DOT Offer - Request For Proposals For New Operator ...............................................165 5. Summary of Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) Railroad Feasibility Study and Business Plan ............................................166 6. Consolidated Structure Inventory Listing ................................168 7. Active Permit Listing ..............................................175 8. Chronological Listing of CAC Meetings ................................176 9. Use Compatibility Tables ...........................................177 10. Shoreline Ownership and Access Characteristics of Ponded Waters Situated Within One-Quarter Mile of the Remsen-Lake Placid Corridor ..............................180 ix 11. Wild, Scenic and Recreational Rivers Near the Remsen-Lake Placid Corridor ....................................182 12. Access Characteristics of Navigable Streams Crossing the Remsen-Lake Placid Corridor. ............................. 183 13. New York State Breeding Bird Atlas - Breeding Birds of the Remsen-Lake Placid Corridor ..............................184 14. Corridor Closure Statistics - 1992 ....................................188 15. Corridor Maps ...................................................190 16. Adirondacks Snowmobile Map ......................................200 17. Adirondack Centennial Railroad ......................................201 18. Ada Rondax Reports ..............................................206 19. Comparison of Corridor Management Alternatives ........................207 20. Survey of Tourist Railroads/ Rail Museums - Use of Volunteer Workers ..........................................211 21. Adirondack Railroad Tourism Data ....................................212 22. Corridor Rail Service Options - Economics .............................217 23. Northwest Engineering Inc. Options ...................................223 24. F.S.I. Economic Study Summary .....................................226 25. RLPCMP/EIS Assessment of Public Comment on the Draft Plan ....................................234 26. Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor Public Use Control Sign ............................................239 27. National Register of Historic Places Registration Form - Description of Property .............................240 28. Remsen-Lake Placid Corridor Mileages ................................254 x WITH DUE RECOGNITION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE REMSEN-LAKE PLACID TRAVEL CORRIDOR CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE Dan Bogdan ....................................... North Country Railroad Association Sally Bogdanovich ............................... Association for Protection of Adirondacks Betty H. Bradley ................................................St. Lawrence County Andrew Cabal ...................................... Empire State Passengers Association James Cooper ............................................. Adirondack Mountain Club Henry Cosselman ................................... New York State Conservation Council Jim Couthant ............................................ Utica Chamber of Commerce David